Friday, December 5th, 2008
Ford proposes strategies to operate profitably at the current demand and vehicle mix.
Ford’s organizational restructuring plan takes place across all operations, including manufacturing, supplier relationships, dealer relationships, consumer credit operations, and salaried and hourly personnel.
Ford addressed manufacturing concerns, noting that approximately 50 percent of future U.S. manufacturing capacity would be dedicated to producing more fuel-efficient small and medium-size vehicles. As well, nearly all U.S. assembly plants will have flexible body shops to respond quickly to consumer demands.
Ford is also strengthening its relationship with U.S.-based suppliers, with specific attention to women and minority suppliers.
To address an overcapacity of dealers, Ford intends to downsize and restructure in 130 metropolitan market areas. And dealers can continue to rely on the wholly- owned subsidiary, Ford Motor Credit Company for wholesale, retail and lease financing programs, together with capital and facility loan programs.
Ford will have reduced salaried personnel costs by 40 percent over the past three years, including a 10 percent reduction effective February 2009. There have been significant changes to Compensation and Benefit packages as well, such as eliminating merit increases and bonuses due to be paid in 2009.
When it comes to hourly personnel, Ford is working closely with the UAW to transform our total labor costs. Through these efforts, as well as capping costs on benefits, Ford will realize a total of $5.5 billion in annualized operating cost reductions from 2005 through 2008.
To read the section on restructuring,
click here.
Tags: automotive industry, Ford manufacturing, Senate Banking Committee, UAW
Posted in
The Ford Story - text |
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Monday, September 8th, 2008
Intensive college program gives hourly employees more tools to improve quality
As students geared up for the start of a new school year, hourly employees at Ford Motor Company plants throughout the U.S. hit the books themselves in an effort to further improve Ford’s vehicle quality. The joint UAW-Ford intensive one-year Certified Quality Specialist Program delivered through
Wayne State University in Detroit helps UAW quality representatives master key manufacturing problem-solving skills in an effort to further improve vehicle quality. This new program takes place in about one-third the time required through previous training programs.
The Wayne State program is open to UAW plant quality representatives who are charged with monitoring and implementing standardized quality processes in Ford plants. The course is conducted through a combination of instructor-led workshops at WSU and self-guided online sessions completed by quality reps in their own plants at their own pace. Course work focuses on the impact of quality on customer satisfaction using such analytical tools as statistical process control, Six Sigma problem-solving and interpersonal communications.
QUOTES
“Ford leadership recognizes the value in helping our manufacturing operators obtain the skills they need as quickly as possible. This program used to take three years to complete. Now our people will be certified in one year. Everyone recognizes we don’t have time to wait three years.”
Philip Calhoun, Ford’s director, Manufacturing Quality, The Americas
“The Certified Quality Specialist Program is the right training for the right people at the right time. We accelerated the learning and made changes to reflect the disciplined, standardized quality process being used in all the plants.”
Brock Roy, UAW Co-Chair UAW-Ford National Quality Committee
“I know of only one other automaker that started a program like this, but they quickly terminated it due to budget constraints. A better approach is what Ford is doing: Equipping their employees with the tools they need to perform at the highest level possible. It’s a worthwhile investment.”
Ahmad Ezzeddine, associate vice president for Educational Outreach at WSU
Tags: quality, Six Sigma, UAW, WSU
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Ford Quality - text |
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Thursday, December 13th, 2007
- Reached four-year U.S. labor agreement with the UAW without work stoppage.
- Improved integration of global product development under Derrick Kuzak’s leadership.
- Unified global marketing efforts by hire of Jim Farley, who also oversees U.S. marketing, sales and service.
For more information about Ford Motor Company and its global initiatives, visit
http://media.ford.com
Tags: Ford Management, UAW
Posted in
Ford Stories - 2007 Year in Review |
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